Run in the Woods

I ran 10 miles today! Outside! 50% on trails!

So glad to be out there =)

This is, of course, not really a news-worthy event (like everything else on here!). There are a few reasons, though, why this run made me extra happy:

1. With my recent cross-county move and two little kiddos distracting me, my return to running has been much slower after this last pregnancy then I would have liked.*

2. Per the kiddos, again, and my husband's busy travel schedule, almost all of my running the last few months has been on the treadmill (which I am loving, however, blah)

3. It is just so darn beautiful outside!

The last time I ran on this particular trail was last June when we were out house-hunting. I couldn't exactly 'run' since I was 7.5 months pregnant and it's a pretty hilly route (link). That made this morning's run, on Ithaca's South Hill Recreation Way, even more enjoyable - I could actually run the whole thing!

Beautiful Trail

Wonderful views of the forest

Icing on the cake was that today I did the run from our home! I'm now living in this beautiful, non-crowded, relatively affordable place that I love! Hopefully many more runs will be following soon!

* Happily, I've been running ~20 miles a week for the last 6 weeks or so. I feel a training plan just around the corner!

Immune System, come back!

Soon after my last post I came down with another virus. This time it was a stomach virus. Awesome. I'll be back to blogging/running when my immune system returns from vacation.

Time to train!

I'm currently nursing my second upper respiratory infection of the month, both viral; this one is a bonus with an ear infection. It seems I got hit with either the cold or flu first and now, when my immune system was down for the count, RSV. Both kids also had it last week, while their dad was out of town. Awesome.

This is by no means tragic; I'm just so sorry to see my long-awaited treadmill sitting mostly idle. I'm going to try a walk tonight and see how that goes. Hopefully running will re-commence soon.

I may be back to pre-pregnancy weight (took 4.5 months, just like with the first one) but I'm no where near pre-pregnancy shape =). I'm giving myself the next 3 weeks, give or take, to get up to 20-30 miles per week. Then it will be time to look at an actually training plan. I don't think I'll be very accountable until I pick a plan to follow!

I'm saved!

Where have I been? Nowhere... nowhere running, that is. With the holidays, a 3000 mile move, two tiny kids, cold weather (which I love but which keeps me from taking the kiddos on BOB runs) and a husband who travels a lot I have been stuck.at.home. The last time I went running was early November. That is ridiculous

Soooo - drum roll - I am very pleased to introduce you to my solution:

My new Precor 9.23 treadmill!

I definitely treated myself with this. It's the most basic model from a very good treadmill maker. I can't wait to start logging miles. Just this afternoon, I sneaked 3 miles during nap time and feel much better. Indeed, so much better that I don't even mind that I have to cut this post short because a baby just started crying. It's okay, I can run again =)

Happy birthday to me =)

A few weeks ago my birthday came and went. My family, not ones to forget marking the occasion, was gracious enough to gift me some $. So, what to do with my new windfall? Why running-related things, of course!

First, I selected some motivational items from roadrunnersports.com. I love shopping there; they have decent selection and it's cheaper then my local running store.

My loot

I scored some new Nike shorts (in my pre-pregnancy size, yay!), a new sweatshirt (okay, not really running related, but I'm living in sweats during these early baby months), and a package of Clif shot bloks, to help motivate me to do some long(er) runs!

Finally, I had some $ left and I knew just where to put it: babysitting. After my (semi) recent revelation that running sans kids is needed to maintain my sanity it was a full 10 days before I got out there alone again. My husband's work schedule and the baby's eating schedule are conspiring against me. 

Now, with my husband out of town for two+ weeks, a couple of hours of babysitting are exactly what I needed. I got in a 9 mile run (since when did 10 min/mile pace feel hard? Oy, out of shape!), a shower and a grocery run. What a luxury three hours alone was!

Run Happy

Just like pregnancy, the postpartum period is a necessary evil. It is completely worth it, but evil nonetheless. At least when you're pregnant you look 'cute'. The postpartum shape is just icky. Also, there is no hit to the self esteem like someone congratulating you on your pregnancy when you've already had the baby!

With this general feeling of blah I sat down during nap time today to watch the documentary Happy.

The film takes a look at different cultures and examines the research in a poignant look at what 'makes people happy'. It was a decent watch, if a bit slow at points, and I'd recommend it. The main take-away, for me, was that; 50% of happiness is genetic predisposition (termed your 'set point'), 10% comes from what happens to you, and a whopping 40% is due to choices you make. The relevant choices vary from person to person, of course. Yet, a common thread was that 'happy people' spend more time doing things where they feel 'in the zone'. That point where one is doing something they love and it seems to flow effortlessly.

So, I thought to myself; 'what puts me in the zone?'. I realized that it used to be running, but I hadn't felt that way about running recently. Then it occurred to me that I haven't really been running, I have been pushing a BOB stroller. It's hard to find your 'zen' when you are pushing ~your weight, listening to constant jabber/screaming, and stopping every quarter of a mile to replace a pacifier or retrieve an ejected sippy cup. No wonder I wasn't feeling relaxed and rejuvenated from my runs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the freedom my BOB strollers bring me. Especially during times like the past week when my husband was out of town. It's the only exercise I can get. 

Tonight, however, as soon as Daddy came home from work Mommy went out the door. This was my first run alone, without at least one of the kids, in months. Man, was it nice! After 7 miles of quiet, watching the sun set behind the Golden Gate Bridge, I arrived home a much happier and more centered Mommy.

Lesson learned; I won't forget to run to my happy place on at least an occasional basis. I'll be a better mom/wife/person for it =)

I went for a run!

Two weeks post delivery, I finally made it out for a run! Yay!

It was only two miles; there was no 'timing' involved and there was some walking. That's okay, though, I'll go easy on myself. After all, I haven't run in two months and I was pushing this:

First run post baby and first run with the new BOB SUS stroller!

I'll do a review of the new stroller once we have had some more miles together. I will say now, though; that's a lot of baby + stroller weight to be pushing =) It's a strength training workout and a cardio workout all in one!

The road ahead: I have actually felt 'good enough' to try running for a bit now, but imposed a two-week mandated rest on myself before giving it a go. The last few days were particularly tempting, since the new stroller had arrived early and was all ready to go.

I'll try a 'real' run (sans stroller) over the next few days to get an idea of how I'm really feeling. After so much time off (an extra month than with my first pregnancy) I'm sure my return to fitness will be frustratingly slow. Having made it back from pregnancy ruin once, and even PRing in the marathon, I know that it's possible and all I need is a little patience. So, I'll just try to enjoy each (very slow) BOB run with the girls and know that I'll get there eventually =)